# NTSB DEN01LA081: Cessna 172P, N54663, Rangely, CO, March 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2001, 18:00 local (Mar 31, 2001, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Rangely, CO - Coordinates: 40.080558, -108.770118 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0806&lon=-108.7701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA081 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of aileron and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the direct gusty crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - aileron - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot, a student at and a member of the college's flight team, took off approximately 1745 to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings in preparation for the upcoming National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition. According to the chief pilot, the private pilot made a normal crosswind landing on runway 24. There was an estimated 10 to 15 knot direct right crosswind. When the airplane touched down, the pilot relaxed aileron input. The airplane began "wheel barrowing," the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway, striking a taxiway sign. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2001, approximately 1800 mountain standard time, N54663, a Cessna 172P, operated by Colorado Northwestern Community College, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Rangely, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview with the college's chief pilot, he said the pilot, a student at and a member of the college's flight team, took off approximately 1745 to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings in preparation for the upcoming National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition at the University of North Dakota. The accident was witnessed by the chief pilot. The pilot made a normal crosswind landing on runway 24. There was an estimated 10 to 15 knot direct right crosswind. When the airplane touched down, the pilot relaxed aileron input. The airplane began "wheel barrowing," the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway, striking a taxiway sign. Damage consisted of a sheared nose landing gear, buckled firewall, and dented wing tip. In the pilot's accident report, he said "the crosswind was coming from an approximate heading of 330 (degrees) and was directly perpendicular to the runway." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54663](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54663), registered now, S/N 17275029, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275029 - Airframe hours: 5088 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Colorado Northwestern Community College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2001, 21 hours before - Departed: 4V0, Rangely, CO - Destination: Rangely, CO - Airport: 4V0, Rangely, runway 24, 6,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 29, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 245 total, 173 in this make and model, 107 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010330006499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010330006499A), Mar 30, 2001: Cessna 172P, Rangley, CO, No damage. (-23) The pilot landed the a/c on runway 24 with approx. a 10 knot wind at a 90 degree angle to the runway. Once the pilot got the airplane on the ground he… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.